Tool for cutting structural materials

ABSTRACT

A clipper with a cutting head and having an actuator. The heads contain a structural profile-specific channel into which structural material having the profile for which the head is designed is inserted and clipped. The head is designable for various structural profiles and, in one embodiment, multiple heads are interchangeably operated by a single actuator. In the interchangeable embodiment, a release button having two sections of differing diameters is disposed in the actuator and communicates with a connector slot of the head to permit attachment and detachment of the head from the actuator. The structure-specific clipper increases the quality of cuts and decreases the amount of deformation caused to the material. The clipper reduces buildup of waste material by ejecting cuttings from the head upon clipping.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application60/780,278, filed Mar. 8, 2006, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hand tools for cuttingmaterials. In particular, the present invention relates to a handheld,manually actuated clipper for cutting structural material.

BACKGROUND

Handheld, manually actuated cutting devices are common in the art forcutting materials ranging from paper and fabrics to wood and metal.These devices, or tools, comprise such common forms as scissors forcutting paper or fabrics, clippers for cutting hedges or tree limbs andsnips, punches or nibblers for cutting thin sheet metal, among an arrayof others. Forms of such devices are also used for piercing, nibbling,trimming, clipping, among a wide range of other applications in additionto cutting.

Such devices typically have two pivotally connected members thatcomprise handles along a first end and cutting members at or near asecond end. The connection between the members is typically provided bya fulcrum generally located so as to provide mechanical advantage to theuser of the device, especially in applications where materials such aswood or metal are to be cut. Designs may be tailored to provide asufficient amount of mechanical advantage for a given application byaltering the distances between the cutting members, the fulcrum and thehandles.

The cutting members of the cutting devices in the art are also wideranging. They may comprise one or more opposing wedge shaped surfaces orblades, for cutting or they might utilize a plurality of opposingsurfaces moving in opposite directions to shear a section of material.

The pivotal connection between the members can be designed in variousconfigurations as well. The configurations range from a simple pinbetween two members allowing pivotal movement to more complex compoundaction mechanical devices having multiple interconnecting members, pivotpoints and movements.

A major area for application of cutting devices or tools is theconstruction industry. Tools of all types, sizes and configurations areutilized to cut, pierce, nibble, clip and shear a wide variety ofmaterials. One segment of the construction industry that employs anumber of cutting tools is the fence installation business. Handheldcutting tools are used by workers in the process of assembling andinstalling metal and vinyl fencing. Cutting tools such as notchers,nibblers, end clippers and even saws, are commonly used in the field toprepare fencing sections for assembly by bending, forming, notchingand/or cutting the fence sections to obtain a desired length or to formcouplings, such as rail end steps. Handheld cutting tools are ideal forsuch functions due to their ease of use, portability, small size, andspecificity of function. Due to the wide variety of fencing componentsand materials, many different tools are often necessary.

The materials employed in commercial, industrial and residential fencingtypically comprise sections of aluminum or vinyl rails, slats, and postsamong others, including preassembled panels of fencing components. Thesections of structural material are often formed with uniquecross-sectional profiles to provide aesthetic exterior appearances orstructural strength, among other properties. Additionally, the profilesmay include interior channels, or ribs, such as a “J” section, tostrengthen and allow connectivity between sections, among other uses.There are many unique profiles available in the field and typically eachmanufacturer will produce its own unique profiles. Often, sections ofthe materials, whether they be preassembled panels or single components,must be cut to length in the field and the ends clipped or notched toprovide a suitable coupling for joining the sections together.Couplings, such as rail end steps, generally comprise a small section ornotch that is clipped from along an edge at the end of the fencingsection to allow the sections to mate with a fence post. It is desirableto make the couplings with tight tolerances and without bending ordeforming the remaining material in order to permit a tight connectionbetween mating members of the fence and to produce an aestheticappearance to the coupling. To do so, the cut should generally provide asharp, square perimeter around the cut without unduly bending ordeforming the remaining material. Producing such a cut typicallyrequires that the material be well supported during the cut to reducedeformation and to keep the cutting blade correctly aligned with thematerial during the cut. Thus, each different profile of fencingmaterial can require different tools to make the cuts and to producequality joints.

The function-specific aspects of handheld tools in the art can beadvantageous in providing tools specifically designed to fit a givenapplication or material and thereby produce a good quality, clean cut orclipping. For example, the tool can be designed to produce a sharp,square cut on a specific section of material such as a fence rail havinginternal channels, without causing unwanted deformation to the material.

The function specificity of hand tools may also serve as a drawback forseveral reasons. The function-specific qualities of the tools limitstheir practical use, i.e., they can not be used, or are difficult touse, in other applications involving different materials or proprietarymaterial shapes, among others. Thus, a single tool may be dedicated to asingle task thereby requiring a worker to carry multiple tools forcompleting each of a variety of different tasks. Further, durable, highquality tools are oftentimes very expensive, which can be a financialburden to a worker or business when a large number of specialty toolsare needed to properly complete a job.

There is a need for a clipper that can produce a high quality, clean cutthat is easily adaptable to multiple specific functions, materials andmaterial profiles, and has sufficient durability for extended andrepeated uses. There is also a need for a clipper that can produce ahigh quality, clean cut for a specific material and material profile andhas sufficient durability for extended and repeated uses. There is afurther need for a cutting tool that can be re-configured in the fieldto accommodate different functions, materials and material profileswithout the resorting to additional tools.

SUMMARY

A clipper having interchangeable cutting heads is disclosed according toan embodiment of the present invention. The clipper comprises anactuator separate from the cutting head which enables the commonactuator to be used with multiple interchangeable cutting heads. Thecutting heads are designed to be compatible with specific structuralmaterial profiles and to provide clean cuts to those profiles withoutcausing undue deformation to the surrounding material and structure. Theinterchangeability of the cutting heads permits a user to utilize oneactuator for multiple applications and to reduce the number of toolsthey must carry while on a job. For example, a user can carry a singleactuator and several different heads into the field rather thanmultiple, dedicated tools, thereby reducing the bulk and number of toolsthat must be transported. Also, a user may replace or purchase newcutting heads at a lower cost as compared to purchasing a complete,dedicated tool. The cutting heads are easily interchanged through theuse of a release button, a slidable punch pin lever and guide pinswithout the need for additional tools. Components of the cutting headare retained therein to prevent the loss of loose components in thefield.

Alternatively, the clipper may be produced without interchangeability ofthe heads in order to provide a unit adapted to clipping a singlestructural material profile. Such a unit maintains many of theadvantages of the cutting mechanism of the present invention without theaddition of clipper head interchangeability.

An object of the present invention is a tool for cutting structuralmaterials. The tool comprises a guide plate having a pair ofspaced-apart connector pins. A pair of handles, each handle including aconnector plate, are movably coupled to the guide plate. A drive pin ispivotally coupled to the connector plates, the drive pin being movablegenerally linearly as the handles are pivoted. A detachable cutting headcomprises a body that includes a channel configured to receive astructural material workpiece. A mounting flange is coupled to the bodyand includes a pair of spaced-apart apertures. Lastly, a cutting platehaving a connector slot is slidably disposed in the body. The aperturesof the mounting flange are configured to detachably engage the connectorpins of the guide plate and the connector slot of the cutting plate isconfigured to detachably engage the drive pin. In addition, the cuttingplate is configured to move slidably in the body as the handles arepivoted, effective to cut a structural material workpiece when theworkpiece is inserted into the channel of the body.

Another object of the present invention is a method for cuttingstructural materials. The method comprises the steps of forming anactuator by pivotably coupling together a pair of handles with a drivepin, and detachably engaging apertures of a cutting head tocorresponding connector pins of the actuator. A slidable cutting plateof the cutting head is detachably coupled to the drive pin of theactuator. Lastly, a structural material workpiece is inserted into achannel of the cutting head and the handles are pivoted such that thecutting plate moves slidably in relation to a body of the cutting head,thereby cutting the workpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent tothose skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from readingthe specification and claims with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view depicting the generalarrangement of components of an interchangeable clipper according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear side elevational view of the interchangeable clipper ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a front side elevational view of the head of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicted detached from the actuator;

FIG. 3 b is a left side elevational view of the head of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicted detached from the actuator;

FIG. 3 c is a rear side elevational view of the head of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicted detached from the actuator;

FIG. 3 d is a top elevational view of the head of the interchangeableclipper of FIG. 1 depicting the location of a cavity through which theblade travels;

FIG. 4 a is a front side elevational view of the actuator of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicted detached from the head;

FIG. 4 b is a rear side elevational view of the actuator of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicted detached from the head;

FIG. 5 a is a rear side elevational view of the back plate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 b is a front side elevational view of the spacer plates of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 c is a front side elevational view of the guide pin plate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 d is a front side elevational view of a faceplate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 e is a front side elevational view of a faceplate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicting measurement graduationsalong its surface;

FIG. 5 f is a front side elevational view of the blade of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1 depicting a stop feature;

FIG. 5 g is a front side elevational view of the cutting plate andassociated punch pin lever of the interchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 a is a front side view of a handle and grip of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 b is a front side elevational view of a connector plate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 c is a front side elevational view of the guide plate of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the release button assembly ofthe interchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the actuator assembly of theinterchangeable clipper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front side, partially exploded view of the interchangeableclipper of FIG. 1 depicting the front connector plates removed forviewing the connections between the head and the actuator;

FIG. 10 is a front side, partially exploded view of the interchangeableclipper of FIG. 1 depicting the front connector plates removed forviewing the connection between the head and the actuator;

FIG. 11 is a front side elevation of a clipper according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front side, partially exploded view of the clipper of FIG.11 depicting the front connector plates removed for viewing theconnection between the head and the actuator;

FIG. 13A depicts a cutting head according to another embodiment of thepresent invention with a cutter plate of the cutting head shown in aretracted position;

FIG. 13B shows the cutting head of FIG. 13A with the cutter plate in acutting position; and

FIG. 13C shows the cutting head of FIG. 13A with the cutter plate in afully-extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 an interchangeable clipper tool(referred to interchangeably herein as “clipper” or ”tool”) 10comprising a cutting head 12 and an actuator 14 is disclosed accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Cutting head 12 furthercomprises a body 16 and a cutting plate 18 which together form thecutting mechanism for clipper 10, as depicted in FIGS. 3 a-d. Body 16 isthe housing in which the remaining components of cutting head 12 aredisposed. Body 16 has at its front portion faceplates 20 a and 20 b.Faceplates 20 a and 20 b are aligned generally transverse to thelongitudinal axis of clipper 10 and form a portion of a channel 21 intowhich material to be clipped is inserted (FIGS. 1, 3 a and 3 c). Thealignment and cross-sectional profile of faceplates 20 a and 20 b isdeterminable by design such that channel 21 formed thereby can beconfigured to accept various material profiles (as described below). Aportion of the rear side of faceplates 20 a and 20 b, intermediate theirlength, is removed to form a portion of a cavity 22 extending transverseto the length of the faceplates (FIGS. 3 d and 9). Measurementgraduations 23 may be included along a front portion of faceplate 20 aand/or 20 b to assist a user in determining the length of material to beclipped. Faceplates 20 a and 20 b also contain a plurality of apertures24 through which fasteners 25 are inserted to attach the faceplates toother components of cutting head 12. Fasteners 25 may be any type offastener including screws, rivets, and pins, among others, or apermanent form of bonding such as welding can be used.

Again referring to FIGS. 2, 3 b-d and 5 a, a back plate 26 is attachedat the rear side of cutting head 12 by fasteners 25 inserted throughapertures 30. Back plate 26 is generally rectangular in shape and formsthe rear side of cavity 22. A slot 28 is disposed along a centralportion of back plate 26 extending transverse to the width of cuttinghead 12. Slot 28 extends nearly the full height of back plate 26 and hasa width suitable for accepting a punch pin lever 52 (described below).

Between faceplates 20 a and 20 b and back plate 26 is disposed a guidepin plate 32, referred to interchangeably herein as a “guide pin plate”and a “mounting flange” (FIG. 5 c) and spacer plates 33 (FIG. 5 b), asdepicted best by FIG. 3 b. Guide pin plate 32 is typically locatedbehind and adjacent to faceplate 20 b and extends toward actuator 14beyond the bottom surface of the faceplate. The extended portion ofguide pin plate 32 contains apertures 34 for accepting guide pins 70 ofactuator 14 (described below) and a may define the bottom portion ofcavity 22. Guide pin plate 32 can also have sections along its widthremoved to provide compatibility with cutting plate 18 (as describedbelow). Spacer plates 33 and guide pin plate 32 provide appropriatespacing between faceplates 20 a and 20 b and back plate 26 to formchannel 21 and cavity 22, as depicted by FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 d. Guidepin plates 32 and spacer plates 33 also contain apertures 36 forinsertion of fasteners 25.

Cutting plate 18 further comprises a widened, generally rectangularsection 38 along its upper area and a neck 40 extending downwardlytherefrom, as displayed in FIG. 5 g. Section 38 contains apertures 42for accepting fasteners 44 by which a cutting blade 46 is attached tothe section. Cutting blade 46 (FIG. 5 f) also has apertures 48 foraccepting fasteners 44. Cutting blade 46 is a generally rectangularcomponent having a cutting surface 49 along its upper edge. Cuttingsurface 49 can have any desired design that will provide adequatecutting force and ability in a given application and typically is anangled surface creating a wedge shape and a leading cutting edge 50.Cutting surface 49 may extend across the full width of cutting blade 46or a stop 51 can be located intermediate the width, as depicted in FIGS.3 a and 5 f. Stop 51 is a portion of cutting blade 46 extendingorthogonally from cutting surface 49 that forms an obstacle to thepassage of material inserted into channel 21. Stop 51 assists a user inachieving material cuts of consistent predetermined length.

Neck 40 provides the connection between cutting plate 18 and actuator 14for actuating clipper 10, as described below and depicted in FIGS. 9 and10. Along the length of neck 40 is a punch pin lever 52 (FIGS. 3 b-d and5 g). Punch pin lever 52 (referred to interchangeably herein as “punchpin lever” and “lever”) interacts with slot 28 of back plate 26 toprovide additional support, alignment and restriction of the movement ofcutting plate 18 (as described below). Punch pin lever 52 can be anyform of pin or element extending generally perpendicularly from the rearsurface of neck 56 a sufficient distance to extend through back plate 26and to provide adequate length for a user to grasp the punch pin leverand manipulate cutting plate 18. A rubber or plastic cap 53 may beinserted over punch pin lever 52 to provide comfort to a user duringmanipulation of the punch pin lever and for aesthetic appearances.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 a, 3 c and 5 g, neck 40 also contains aconnector slot 54 at its end opposite section 38. Connector slot 54comprises a neck section 56 and a head section 58, forming akeyhole-shaped slot. Neck section 56 typically has a short length, about¼ inch, but may be longer or shorter depending on a given design, andhas a width smaller than the diameter of head section 58. Head section58 is a generally circular region having a diameter greater than thewidth of neck section 56 and an open portion allowing communication of arelease button 72 (described below) between the neck and head sections.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 as well as 4 a and 4 b, actuator 14 furthercomprises handles 60, grips 62, connector plates 64 and a guide plate66. Handles 60 extend from near cutting head 12 a distance sufficient toprovide a desirable amount of mechanical advantage to a user foractuating clipper 10 (FIG. 6 a). Grips 62 may be located on handles 60along their extended ends to provide comfort and grip to a user duringuse and transport of clipper 10 (FIG. 6 a). Grips 62 can be composed ofany suitable material including rubber, plastic, metal or wood, amongothers or may be integrated into the shape of handles 60.

Connector plates 64 are attached along the top ends of handles 60 andinterconnect handles and cutting plate 18, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 4a, and 4 b. Typically, four connector plates 64 are utilized whereineach handle 60 is sandwiched between two connector plates. Attachment ofconnector plates 64 to handles 60 is provided by fasteners 68 which canbe any form of fastener, including, but not limited to, rivets, screws,or bolts, or a bonding method such as welding, among others, can beutilized. Connector plates 64 can have any suitable shape and formdesirable to provide appropriate mechanical connection between theassociated components and to provide sufficient strength for operationof clipper 10 (FIG. 6 b).

As displayed in FIG. 6 c as well as FIGS. 1, 2, 4 a, and 4 b, guideplate 66 is generally U-shaped and is oriented such that the ends of theU-shape point upward and away from handles 60. Guide plate 66 providesguide pins 70 (referred to interchangeably herein as “guide pins” and”connector pins”) extending perpendicularly from its front surface nearits ends. Guide pins 70 generally comprise pins fixedly attached toguide plate 66 for linking with guide pin plate 32 via apertures 34(described below). Guide plate 66 is rotatably attached to and disposedbetween each set of connector plates 64 with fulcrum pins 71 insertedthrough the guide plate and the connector plates. The attachment is madeintermediate the legs of the U-shape of guide plate 66.

A release button 72 is inserted through apertures 74 through connectorplates 64 thereby pivotally connecting the handles 60 together, as shownby FIG. 8. Release button 72 comprises a drive pin or shaft 73 having arelease portion 76, a locking portion 78, and a flanged section 80, asbest displayed by FIG. 7. Release portion 76 is located at a first endof release button 72 and has a diameter smaller than the width of neckportion 56 of cutting plate 18 to allow the release portion of therelease button to travel through the neck section. Locking portion 78 isadjacent to release portion 76 along the length of release button 72 andhas a diameter greater than the width of neck section 56 but less thanthat of head section 58. This width allows locking portion 78 of releasebutton 72 to rotate within head section 58, but obstructs its removalthrough neck section 56. Flanged section 80 is located at the second endof release button 72 and has a diameter greater than apertures 74through connector plates 64 to obstruct travel of the release buttonthrough the apertures. Release portion 76 and locking portion 78 havesufficient length to allow interaction with connector slot 54 of cuttingplate 18, as described below. Release portion 76 has sufficient lengthto allow connector slot 54 to slide around the section when releasebutton 72 is depressed into clipper 10 and is short enough to be removedfrom access by the connector slot when the release button is released.Locking portion 78 has sufficient length to engage head section 58 ofconnector slot 54 when release button 72 is released and is short enoughto fully disengage the connector slot when the release button isdepressed (described in greater detail below).

An element 82 is attached to the first end of release button 72 toprevent its removal from apertures 74 and a biasing element 84, such asa spring, is located between the element and the adjacent connectorplate 64 to bias the release button's first end to extend away from theconnector plates and to dispose locking portion 78 between the connectorplates, as depicted by FIGS. 7 and 8. Element 82 may be any suitableshape, size and material sufficient to fixedly attach to release button72, and retain the release button and spring 84 in position. Spring 84can comprise any form of spring, and is typically a helical stainlesssteel spring. A cap 86, typically composed of a soft, pliable rubber orplastic is applied over element 82 to provide comfort to a user and toprovide aesthetic qualities, among others.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 4 a, a handle lock 88 may also be includedbetween handles 60 or connector plates 64 to retain the handles in aclosed position. Handle lock 88 typically comprises a rotatable,generally L-shaped member 90 located on one handle 60 and a pin 92extending from the opposite handle. Member 90 is rotated to engage pin92 within the L-shape to obstruct movement of the handles 60.

The components of clipper 10, described above, are typically made from ametal, such as aluminum and/or steel alloys, among other metals, unlessspecified otherwise, but other materials or combinations thereof may beutilized. The materials are selected to provide adequate strength toclipper 10 as well as to impart other characteristics such as, but notlimited to, light weight, toughness, wear resistance, corrosionresistance, paintability, or colorability, among others. The componentsare also typically stamped, cut or machined, among other processes, butmay be produced by any other suitable methods or combinations thereofsuch as casting or forging, among others. Further, any suitable form ofraw materials compatible with a desired manufacturing process is useableand typically includes sheet, plate and bar stock, among others.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8 the assembly of clipper 10 is describedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Cutting head 12 isassembled having cutting plate 18 and body 16, as best depicted by FIGS.3 a-d. Cutting plate 18 is constructed by fixedly attaching cuttingblade 46 to the front side of the cutting plate with fasteners 44inserted through apertures 48 and 42. Punch pin lever 52 is fixedlyattached intermediate the rear side of cutting plate 18. Cutting plate18 is incorporated into body 16 by inserting punch pin lever 52 throughslot 28 in back plate 26 and orienting the cutting plate such thatcutting blades 46 extend in the direction of the top of the back plate.Fasteners 25 are inserted through apertures 30 located at each corner ofback plate 26, the fasteners extending toward the front of body 16. Body16 may then be constructed in layers from the rear moving toward thefront utilizing fasteners 25 by first locating one spacer plate 33 alongand adjacent to each side of cutting plate 18 and against back plate 26using the fasteners along either side of the back plate and apertures36. Then guide pin plate 32 is located on the bottom fasteners 25 usingapertures 36 such that a portion of guide pin plate extends downward andaway from body 12. Faceplate 20 a is located on the top fasteners 25using apertures 24 and faceplate 20 b is located on the bottom twofasteners using the apertures. Fasteners 25 are then tightened tofixedly retain the components in place as depicted in FIGS. 3 a-d. Bythis construction cutting plate 18 is slidably disposed within cavity 22created by faceplates 20 a and 20 b and back plate 26. Movement ofcutting plate 18 downward and out of cavity 22 is obstructed by guidepin plate 32 and upward and downward movement is restricted byinteraction of punch pin lever 52 and slot 28. Further, channel 21 iscreated by portions of faceplates 20 a and 20 b, guide pin plate 32,spacer plates 33 and back plate 26 forming a cavity oriented across andtraversing the width of cutting head 12.

Actuator 14 is assembled by inserting the first ends of handles 60 intoappropriately sized cavities 94 within grips 62 as shown in FIG. 6 a.The second end of each handle 60 is disposed between two connectorplates 64 and fixedly attached thereto by fasteners 68 to produce twoseparate handles with a pair of connector plates attached thereto, asdepicted by FIG. 8. Such an arrangement provides space between theconnector plates 64 of a width equal to the thickness of the handle 60to which they are attached. Guide plate 66, having a thickness generallyequal to or less than that of handles 60, is also disposed within thespace between adjacent connector plates 64 and is rotatably connectedthereto by fulcrum pins 71 (FIG. 8). Guide plate 66 connects to eachpair of connector plates 64 intermediate each leg of its U-shape,thereby linking the two separate handle 60 and connector plateassemblies. Guide plate 66 is oriented such that the legs of its U-shapepoint away from handles 60 and guide pins 70 extend toward the front ofclipper 10. Portions of connector plates containing apertures 74 aredesigned to allow overlapping of the connector plates to permitalignment of the apertures while also maintaining a gap or space betweenthe innermost connector plates. Apertures 74 in connector plates 64 arethen aligned and release button 72 is inserted from the rear side ofclipper 10 through the apertures (FIG. 8). Spring 84 is located aroundthe portion of release button 72 extending from the front of clipper 10and element 82 is fixedly attached to the end of the release button toretain the spring and release button in place. Cap 86 is then placedover element 82 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

Cutting head 12 and actuator 14 may then be connected, as is depicted inFIGS. 9 and 10. Punch pin lever 52 is moved toward the top of cuttinghead 12 to slide cutting plate 18 upward. While retaining thispositioning, guide pins 70 of actuator 14 are inserted from the rear ofcutting head 12 into apertures 34 of guide pin plate 32. Release button72 is depressed toward the rear of actuator 14 to expose release portion76 of the release button within the gap between the innermost connectorplates 64. Punch pin lever 52 is then used to slide cutting plate 18downward causing neck 40 to insert into the gap between connector plates64 and connector slot 54 to engage release portion 76 (FIG. 10). Releaseportion 76 allows neck section 56 of connector slot 54 to slot in aroundrelease button 72 and allows head section 58 to engage the releasebutton. Release button 72 is then released permitting release portion 76to travel out of connector slot 54 and locking portion 78 to travel intoand engage the connector slot. The diameter of locking portion 78 beinggreater than the width of neck section 56, locks cutting plate 18 incommunication with release button 72. Cutting head 12 and actuator 14are thereby retained in communication by guide pins 70 and releasebutton 72.

In operation, clipper 10 is typically used to clip generally rectangularportions along an edge at the end of a structural aluminum fence rail tocreate rail end steps according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Cutting head 12 provides a channel 21 as depicted in FIGS. 1,3 a and 3 b, into which one edge of a fence rail is inserted. Channel 21is designed for application specific use and, therefore has dimensionsclosely approximating the profile of the specific fence rail to beclipped, such as the “J” section of a section of aluminum fence rail.

To perform a cut, handle lock 88 is first unlatched and handles 60pulled laterally away from one another causing the handles to pivotabout fulcrum pins 71. The movement of handles 60 also draws releasebutton 72 downward toward the users hands and therefore the attachedcutting plate 18 downward, thereby removing cutting blade 46 fromchannel 21. One edge of the fence rail is then inserted into channel 21.Measurement graduations along faceplate 20 b may be utilized by the userto determine the length of cut to be made up to the maximum lengthallowed by stop 51, i.e. the fence rail can be inserted into channel 21and against the stop to make the largest cut available or inserted anylesser amount. If a longer cut is desired, clipper 10 allows a user tomake multiple adjacent cuts.

Once the fence rail is inserted into channel 21 a desired, measureddistance, a cut is made by manually actuating clipper 10 by pressinghandles 60 together. Such movement of handles 60 actuates release button72, cutting plate 18 and cutting blade 46 upward through cavity 22 andinto channel 21. Cutting edge 50 is thereby pressed into and cutsthrough the material. Cutting surface 49 provides additional cuttingaction and causes the cut material to be ejected from cutting head 12through the top open end of cavity 22 (FIG. 3 d) when the cut iscomplete. Body 16 and channel 21 retain and support the fence railduring the cut, thereby reducing the amount of deformation caused to thefence rail and any features thereon. Upon completion of the cut, thefence rail may be removed from channel 21 or inserted further forsubsequent cuts. Only one side or edge of the fence rail is cut at atime, thus allowing a user to have cuts of differing lengths on eitherside of the fence rail to increase adaptability of the fence rail toangled or slanted applications on uneven ground, among other advantages.

Clipper 10 provides a material profile specific channel 21 in cuttinghead 12 to increase cut quality of unique and specific materialprofiles. Clipper 10 accommodates multiple different material profilesby permitting interchangeability of cutting head 12. Multiple cuttingheads 12 are available, each for a different specific material profile,and are easily and similarly attached and detached from actuator 14.Cutting heads 12 may also be designed to accommodate various materialsand for use in other applications such as, but not limited to, vinylfencing installation, aluminum siding, and plumbing installation.

To detach cutting head 12 the reverse process of that described above isfollowed. Release button 72 is depressed to reintroduce release portion76 into connector slot 54 and punch pin lever 52 is slid upward todisengage the connector slot from the release button (see FIGS. 9 and10). Cutting head 12 is then moved toward the front of clipper 10 todisengage guide pins 70 and the cutting head removed. A differentcutting head 12 may then be attached for cutting a different materialprofile, different material, or to replace old, worn out or lost cuttingheads.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, a clipper 100 is depicted according toanother embodiment of the present invention. The structuralprofile-specific cutting functions and characteristics of clipper 10 areincluded in a non-interchangeable unit, clipper 100. Clipper 100 isgenerally constructed as described above but without the ability ofinterchangeable cutting head 12 to accommodate multiple structuralprofiles. For example, the release button 72 may be replaced with anactuator pin 196 much like that of fulcrum pins 71 and guide plate 66replaced with guide plate 166 which is similar in structure to guideplate 66 but with extended legs that are affixed to cutting head 1 12.Guide pin plate 32 and spacer plates 33 may be omitted from cutting head112 and their functions replaced by the extended portions of guide plate166. Alternatively, another embodiment of cutting head 112, having asingle piece body 116 or other variations of the above components, mayalso be utilized so long as the functional aspects of the cutting actionof cutting blade 146 within cavity 122 and channel 121 are retained.Additionally, the utilization of a structural profile-specific channel121 is maintained in order to provide a good quality, clean cut withoutcausing unwanted deformation to the surrounding material.

A head 212 is shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. Head 212 is similar in structureand function to heads 12, 112, wherein a cutter plate 218 is captivelyand slidably disposed within a body 216. Cutter plate 218 includes apunch 246 configured to selectably slidably extend into a cavity 222,moving generally perpendicularly to a channel 221. With generalreference to FIGS. 1 and 13A, in operation head 212 is detachablymounted to an actuator 14 in the manner previously described for heads12, 112. A material to be punched is inserted into channel 221 withhandles 60 in an open, spread-apart position with respect to each other.With general reference to FIGS. 1 and 13B, handles 60 are then pivotedtoward each other, urging punch 246 through the material and into cavity222, thereby punching an aperture in the material corresponding to theshape of punch 246. In various embodiments punch 246 may be shaped toform apertures having various shapes and sizes. Examples include,without limitation, square, rectangular, circular and polygonalapertures. Cutter plate 218 may be moved to a fully-extended position asshown in FIG. 13C to facilitate removal of head 212 from actuator 14,which is accomplished in the same manner as described above for heads12, 112. The structure and function of the remaining components of head212 are substantially the same as heads 12, 112 and thus will not bereiterated here.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the embodiments of the presentinvention solve a number of the shortcomings of tools in the art. Forexample, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 11, heads 12, 112, 212 are easilycoupled to actuators 14, 114 respectively without the need to resort totools. Likewise, heads 12, 112, 212 maybe detached from actuators 14,114 respectively without the use of tools. Thus, tools 10, 100 may beconveniently configured for cutting a variety of structural materials bychanging heads 12, 112, 212 respectively to a head configured to cut aparticular shape or type of structural material. This is particularlybeneficial when tools 10, 100 are in use at a remote location whereadjustment tools are inconvenient to use or are unavailable.

While this invention has been shown and described with respect to adetailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that changes in form and detail thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims of the invention. For example,one skilled in the art will recognize that the components of heads 12,112, 212 may be shaped and arranged to cut or punch one or morepredetermined shapes in or through structural materials having variousshapes and profiles.

1. A tool for cutting structural materials, comprising: a guide platehaving a pair of spaced-apart connector pins; a pair of handles, eachhandle including a connector plate movably coupled to the guide plate; adrive pin pivotally coupled to the connector plates, the drive pin beingmovable generally linearly as the handles are pivoted; a detachablecutting head comprising a body, the body including a channel configuredto receive a structural material workpiece; a mounting flange coupled tothe body, the mounting flange including a pair of spaced-apartapertures; and a cutting plate slidably disposed in the body, thecutting plate having a connector slot, wherein the apertures of themounting flange are configured to detachably engage the connector pinsof the guide plate and the connector slot of the cutting plate isconfigured to detachably engage the drive pin, and wherein the cuttingplate is configured to move slidably in the body as the handles arepivoted, effective to cut a structural material workpiece when theworkpiece is inserted into the channel of the body.
 2. The tool of claim1 wherein the drive pin comprises a locking portion and a releaseportion.
 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the drive pin further comprisesa biasing element to releasably urge the drive pin to a lockingposition.
 4. The tool of claim 2 wherein the connector slot of thecutting plate is generally keyhole-shaped.
 5. The tool of claim 1wherein the cutting plate further comprises a cutting blade.
 6. The toolof claim 5 wherein the blade further comprises a stop.
 7. The tool ofclaim 1 wherein the channel of the body is shaped to receive astructural material workpiece having a predetermined shape.
 8. The toolof claim 1 wherein the drive pin further comprises a cap.
 9. The tool ofclaim 1 wherein the cutting plate further comprises a lever slidablydisposed in the body.
 10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the cutting plateis captively slidably retained in the body by the lever.
 11. The tool ofclaim 1 wherein the body includes measurement graduations.
 12. The toolof claim 1, further comprising a handle lock.
 13. The tool of claim 1,further comprising a grip coupled to an end of each handle.
 14. A methodfor cutting structural materials, comprising the steps of: forming anactuator by pivotably coupling together a pair of handles with a drivepin; detachably engaging apertures of a cutting head to correspondingconnector pins of the actuator; detachably coupling a slidable cuttingplate of the cutting head to the drive pin of the actuator; andinserting a structural material workpiece into a channel of the cuttinghead and pivoting the handles such that the cutting plate moves slidablyin relation to a body of the cutting head, thereby cutting theworkpiece.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step ofbiasing the drive pin to releasably retain the cutting plate.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising the step of captively slidablyretaining the cutting plate in the cutting head.
 17. The method of claim14, further comprising the step of marking measurement graduations onthe cutting head.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising thestep of attaching a handle lock on the handles.
 19. The method of claim14, further comprising the step of installing a grip on an end of eachhandle.
 20. A tool for cutting structural materials, comprising: a guideplate having a pair of spaced-apart connector pins; a pair of handles,each handle including a connector plate movably coupled to the guideplate; a drive pin pivotally coupled to the connector plates, the drivepin being movable generally linearly as the handles are pivoted; adetachable cutting head comprising a body, the body including channelconfigured to receive a structural material workpiece having apredetermined shape; a mounting flange coupled to the body, the mountingflange including a pair of spaced-apart apertures; and a cutting platecaptively slidably disposed in the body, the cutting plate having aconnector slot and a cutting blade, wherein the apertures of themounting flange are configured to detachably engage the connector pinsof the guide plate and the connector slot of the cutting plate isconfigured to detachably engage the drive pin, and wherein the cuttingplate is configured to move slidably in the body as the handles arepivoted, effective to cut a structural material workpiece when theworkpiece is inserted into the channel of the body.